Obeying Faith - Protestant Caucus/Devotional

Gracetoyou.org ^ | 1993 | John McArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

"By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith" (Heb. 11:7). True faith works.

When James said, "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26), he stated a principle that's consistent throughout Scripture: True faith always produces righteous works.

The people described in Hebrews 11 made their genuine faith known in the things they did. The same applies to us today. Paul said, "The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age" (Titus 2:11-12).

Perhaps better than anyone else in history, Noah illustrates the obedience of faith. Scripture characterizes him as "a righteous man, blameless in his time . . . [who] walked with God" (Gen. 6:9).

I remember a sportscaster interviewing a professional football player and asking him what he thought of his team's chances of winning the Super Bowl. The player replied, "We believe that if we just do what the coach says, we'll win." The team had absolute confidence in their coach, but they realized they had to do their part as well.

That illustrates the quality of faith Noah had in God, whom he trusted absolutely as he pursued a task that seemed utterly foolish and useless from a human perspective. Imagine instantly surrendering all your time and effort to devote 120 years to building something you'd never seen (a vessel the size of an ocean liner or battleship) to protect you from something you'd never experienced (rain and flooding). Yet Noah did it without question.

Noah's faith is unique in the sheer magnitude and time span of the task God gave him to do. He didn't argue with God or deviate from his assignment. Is that true of you? Are you pursuing your ministry as faithfully and persistently as Noah did his? Is your faith a faith that works?

Suggestions for Prayer

Thank God for the ministry He's called you to. If you sense there's more you could be doing, ask Him for guidance. Pray for added faithfulness and tenacity in serving Him.

For Further Study

Read the account of Noah in Genesis 6:1—9:17.

From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[ViLaLuz]

For each of our ministries we’ve been called to.

Prayer For Guidance As I Minister God’s Word

Loving Heavenly Father, Who causes all the Holy scripture to be written for our learning, open our hearts and minds I pray, so that we are willing to hear and understand all that Your Holy Spirit has to teach us today.

May we read, mark, learn and inwardly digest, all that You have graciously condescended give us in Your Word. Help us not only to be hearers of Your Word, but those that take and apply all that we learn from You in our lives, to Your praise and glory.

Guide me I pray, as I seek to minister the truth of Your Word. Give us all ears that are ready to listen and hearts that are willing to learn, and may we all be fed from the living Bread, Who Himself came down from heaven to be our Saviour and Lord.

I ask this in the name of our precious Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord,

Amen.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/prayer/prayer-for-guidance-as-i-minister-god-s-word-435